Sarah Franklin has without a doubt become one of my new favourite authors. Situating Connie's and Seppe's growing relationship into the context of the constraints of World War 2, I immediately came to love Sarah's writing style as she collated pieces of flashbacks into a mosaic which truly represented the bittersweet journey the two main characters found themselves on before reaching the forest. I adored seeing their two individual experiences come together, with Connie learning to leave the death of her family behind after the bombing of her neighbourhood, and Seppe coming to terms with life as a prisoner of war.
The plot was perfect given the lack of freedom Seppe has from his prison camp, explaining just how much of a release it is to meet Connie. It made it all the more heartbreaking when their hopes for the future started to untangle from each other, as their individual wartime experiences shaped their thoughts and feelings about what their lives held for them.
Without revealing any spoilers, this book both warmed my heart and also made me consider the potential fatalities of war that stretch far beyond the battlefield. Credit goes to Sarah Franklin for an ending that encompasses all the lessons that Shelter taught to those who read it.
The plot was perfect given the lack of freedom Seppe has from his prison camp, explaining just how much of a release it is to meet Connie. It made it all the more heartbreaking when their hopes for the future started to untangle from each other, as their individual wartime experiences shaped their thoughts and feelings about what their lives held for them.
Without revealing any spoilers, this book both warmed my heart and also made me consider the potential fatalities of war that stretch far beyond the battlefield. Credit goes to Sarah Franklin for an ending that encompasses all the lessons that Shelter taught to those who read it.